About Greece Villas
Greece and the Greek Islands are popular summer vacation destinations because of the guaranteed hot Mediterranean climate, the pull of fabulous beaches and tons of history and culture to immerse yourself in. Great for a romantic getaway or vacation with family or friends and the added desirability of staying in a luxury Greece vacation rental.
Our luxury Greece villa is on Mykonos which is part of the Cyclades Islands that make up only a fraction of Greece's 227 inhabited islands. There are 6,000 Greek islands in total.
Mykonos Town where you'll find our Mykonos luxury villa is the largest town on the island and embodies the traditional white washed buildings making it a very attractive town. It is just 4km from Mykonos Airport or of course you can reach the island by ferry from the mainland, a journey of 3.5 to 5.25 hours depending on the type of ferry you take.
You will quickly fall in love with this quirky Greek luxury vacation rental which is a mixture of the old white washed traditional Greek style with modern touches. It has panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and a wonderful salt water infinity lap pool to while away the hours away from the crowds. When you just want to laze and soak up the sun - after applying your sun-bloc of course - you can lounge on the pool deck or choose one of the three other outdoor seating areas. Or you could just sit on your bedroom's private balcony and enjoy the sun and the views. And when it's time to join the party again your villa is close enough to all the restaurants, tavernas, bars and clubs.
Our expert luxury villa team can also arrange car hire, flights and transfers for you.
Greece Travel Guide
What do we know and love about Greece? Sunshine, white washed houses, blue-domed churches, Greek mythology, Greek Dancing, Greek military in traditional white dress! This country is made up of mainland Greece which borders the Balkan states of Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria and Turkey to the East; the remainder of Greece is islands.
Culturally it has influenced many other Western cultures for centuries and was the home of the first Olympic Games. It is also where you'll find Mount Olympus which in mythology was the home of the 12 Gods. Greece's history, culture, beaches and the glorious climate are magnets for tourists making it one of the top twenty most popular tourist destinations in the world with more than 17 million visitors a year.
Did you know the white washed houses we all associate with Greece that appear on postcards are actually only characteristic of the Cyclades islands?
Climate
Summers are hot and dry in Greece and similar to southern California - a constant 7 months of uninterrupted sunshine from April to November. Temperatures hit a pleasent 79°F during the day and 72°F at night in July and August. The Cyclades benefit from a constant wind called meltemi which eases the heat in summer. Winters are relatively cold and wet.
Mykonos Island
Mykonos is one of the most popular tourist destinations - described as a "travel Mecca" - in the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea. Greek Mythology says that Mykonos is the site of the battle between Zeus - King of the Gods - and the Titans; after Zeus won, the island was named in honour of Apollo's grandson Mykons.
Getting around
As Mykonos is one of the smallest of the Cyclades islands at 12-15 km long and 10km wide, it is easy to negotiate your way around. Transport options include a Mykonos hire car, scooter hire or local buses, taxis and boats. Due to Mykonos' size, cars are not permitted in the town itself but there is parking available in the surrounding areas and the old port.
Buses can be taken from either of the two bus stations, Fabrica in the south and near the old port in the north to take you around the island. Bus fares are cheap and you can purchase tickets before or when you board. There are night buses too.
Taxis are relatively cheap but there are only about 30 on the island meaning waiting times can be lengthy. You can find them in Manto Square near the harbour with rates displayed on a notice board as the taxis aren't metered.
A fun and fairly cheap way to get to the beaches is by boat and there are many boat services offering various beach destinations to choose from.
Things to do
Mykonos is a great island for beach vacations but whilst you're there you can also enjoy its landmark windmills, archaeological treasures, museums, Venetian style architecture, stunning sunsets and boat trips to nearby islands Paros, Syros, Tinos and Naxos.
Beaches
A great way to survive the summer heat is to head to one of the many beaches Mykonos has to offer. Sun loungers with parasols provide shade, inviting waters offer a welcome relief from the heat and tavernas and restaurants provide cooling refreshments and Greek cuisine...all you could possibly need.
Mykonos is home to Agios Ioannis the famous beach that appeared in the movie Shirley Valentine and you too can look out at the incredible views of nearby islands Delos and Rheneia.
You'll find lots of family friendly beaches on Mykonos but also nudity and gay friendly, as well as lively party beaches too.
The best beaches can be found on the south side of the island and include Agrari, Elia, local favourite Psarou, family friendly Platys Gialos, nudity and gay friendly Paranga, Paradise and Super Paradise. On the east coast beaches include quiet Kalo Livadi and Lia, windsurfers favourite Kalafati and also Draoumia and Tafarnis. To the north of the island the beaches are less suitable for sunbathing with few amenities but are perfect for windsurfing due to the northerly winds. Beaches include Fokos, Ftelia, nudist beach Panormos and quiet, nudity friendly Agios Sostis. On the west coast beaches are as busy as the southern side and include family friendly Ornos, also Agios Stefanos, Tourlos, Megali Ammos and Mykonos Town Beach.
Water sports
On the south coast there are water sports at beaches Agari and Platys Gialos including jet skiing. On the east coast Agios Ioannis is great for snorkelling and there are surfing and sea-skiing schools at Ornos beach. And windsurfing, jet skiing, tube rides and wakeboarding at Kalafati beach on the east coast.
Windmills
These are the most recognised landmarks of Mykonos and can be seen all over the island. The distinctive windmills and we're not talking Dutch style, are white washed mills with pointed dome roofs that benefit from the northerly winds. There's a collection of windmills close to Little Venice.
Panagia Paraportiani
Apparently this is the most photographed church of the 400 churches on Mykonos Island. It's located in the Kastro district and consists of 4 chapels, one of which is open to visitors.
Little Venice
A slice of Italy in Greece. Colourful 2 and 3 storey medieval houses sit on the seafront making this a famous and picture-perfect romantic location to watch the sunset. You'll find bars and cafes for cocktails and refreshments whilst you enjoy the view.
Petros the Pelican
Petros the Pelican is the mascot of Mykonos Island and can usually be found at the waterfront. A local fisherman found the original wounded Petros back in 1950 and he remained on the island once recovered becoming the island's mascot. The Petros you meet today will be a successor of the original, but still worth a photo.
Delos
Take a 30 minute boat trip to world heritage site Delos and see if you can unearth any archaeological treasures and enjoy the guided tour.
Shopping
In amongst the cobbled streets and white washed walls of the shops you'll find designer brands Christian Dior and Donna Karan as well as souvenirs and galleries full of local artists' work. There are mini markets, bakeries, grocers and supermarkets to stock on staples for your Mykonos vacation rental too. Many shops close for the afternoon siesta but a lot of tourist shops stay open until late into the night.
Restaurants
There are numerous restaurants celebrating authentic Greek cuisine but equally offering European and International dishes too. Restaurants, tavernas, souvlaki shops, gyros and creperies can be found in Mykonos Town but a short drive or boat trip will take you to restaurants and tavernas tucked away on beaches with gorgeous sea views and sunsets.
- Antonini's Taverna, Mykonos Town - Greek cuisine at one of the oldest Greek restaurants in town
- Blue Ginger Restaurant, Mykonos Town - Thai and Chineses cuisine with sunsets
- Katrine's, Mykonos Town - French and Greek cuisine at one of Mykonos' most famous restaurants
- To Ma'ereio, Mykonos Town - Greek cuisine with Mykonian specialties
- Gola Restaurant, Mykonos Town - Gourmet Italian cuisine
- Avra Restaurant, Mykonos Town - Greek cuisine
- Appaloosa Bar & Restaurant, Mykonos Town - Mexican and European cuisine and cocktails
- N'Ammos, Psarou - Mediterranean cuisine on the beach loved by celebrities with prices to match
- Aqua Taverna, Little Venice - Italian cuisine
- La Luna Beach Taverna, Lia Beach - Italian cuisine and sea views
- Vasoula Taverna, Agios Stefanos - Fresh fish and sea views
- Aneplora, Kalafati - Greek cuisine at Kalafatis beach with views of Aghia Anna beach
Night life
Mykonos is very lively at night due to its gay scene which ensures the beach party atmosphere continues in the bars and clubs and into the early hours of the morning. Enjoy cocktails at Katerina's Bar, cabaret at Montparnasse piano bar from 10pm onwards, Greek music at popular bar Thalami, a romantic atmosphere at Kastro Bar and drag queens and go-go dancers at Ramrods. For beach bars try Kalua Beach Bar and Panormos Beach Bar & Restaurant. And when you want to throw a few shapes on the dance floor there are numerous clubs to try including Paradise Club Mykonos on Paradise Beach, which has been voted one of the 100 best clubs in the world with 3 stages and a swimming pool.
Good to know
- Euro is the currency of mainland Greece and the islands
- Greek is the spoken language although English is spoken and understood in most tourist destinations
- ATMs can be found near the southern bus station
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